Clinical and epidemiological characterization of neonates with low birth weight and late sepsis

Abstract

Introduction: neonatal infection is a clinical syndrome characterized by an inflammatory reaction, with systemic signs of infection.

Objective: to characterize low-weight newborns with late sepsis, admitted to the “Cptan Roberto Rodríguez Fernández” General Hospital in Morón, Ciego de Ávila province, between January 2016 and December 2018.

Methods: cross-sectional descriptive study. From the universe of 215 low-weight neonates, the sample of 78 neonates who presented late infection was selected. The variables studied were: birth weight, gestational age, risk factors, type of deep vascular catheter used and duration of use, diagnosis of infectious disease, results of diagnostic tests and type of germs isolated in blood culture. The late infection rate, case fatality and survival were estimated. Ethical principles were met.

Results: The late infection rate was 36.28 %, with survival of 98.72 %, fatality rate, 1.28 %. The late preterm infant, weighing between 2000-2499 g, was the most affected group. The main risk factors were: prematurity and the use of deep vascular catheter. Late bronchopneumonia was the most frequent diagnosis. The blood culture was positive in 76.92 % with a predominance of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (41.03 %).

Conclusions: the characterization of late sepsis in neonates is presented in the context of a Cuban general hospital, with a high survival rate and low fatality rate. The main risk factors found, the diagnosed diseases and the presence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli as the most frequent germs in the blood culture are described.